(A)Theist Podcast

MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS BOOK STUDYThis week Kelley and Erin complete their book study of Meditations for Mortals. Oliver Burkeman’s fourth week of the book focuses on showing up in our own lives.Conversations this week start a little heavy - the thought of life and death. But Erin ties our mortality into the Burkeman’s concept of finitude - the idea that things end. Lots of us keep “planning” for the future with the idea that our struggles today will eventually make our lives better in the future. In many cases, that’s true. But should we procrastinate in life's enjoyment all the time? Maybe not.The point is that we are going to die, and perhaps it’s important for us to take initiative in enjoying our moments now rather than focus so heavily on the future.We’ve loved this book study and hope to do more of these! If you have suggestions, drop us a note!https://www.atheistpodcast.com/meditationsformortals – – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS BOOK STUDYContinuing our book study, Kelley and Erin finished Week 3 of Meditations for Mortals. This week was all about letting go - the idea of moving past the stress of productivity and people pleasing and instead focusing on the value of doing less and enjoying more. Focus in on the false allure of effort!We’re curious! Where have you learned about letting go? Comment on the episode if you’re using Spotify, or visit our Facebook page, comment on Instagram or Threads, OR visit our website to send us a note!https://www.atheistpodcast.com/meditationsformortalsAs of August 12th, we’re starting to read Week 4! We’ll be recording our reflections on August 18th… we’d LOVE to incorporate any comments you have into our episode! Leave us a comment somewhere and we’ll speak to it during the recording!– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS BOOK STUDYContinuing our book study, Kelley and Erin finished Week 2 of Meditations for Mortals and have a very deep conversation around the theme of taking action.  Did you reach the same conclusions they did? Did you interpret things differently? How are you carrying some of the Week 2 messaging into your daily life?Please comment and let us know what you think about Week 2 - either directly from the book or from the episode!Comment on the episode if you’re using Spotify, or visit our Facebook page, comment on Instagram or Threads, OR visit our website to send us a note!https://www.atheistpodcast.com/meditationsformortalsAs of July 28th, we’re starting to read Week 3! We’ll be recording our reflections on August 4th… we’d LOVE to incorporate any comments you have into our episode! Leave us a comment somewhere and we’ll speak to it during the recording!– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS BOOK STUDYKelley and Erin just finished reading Week 1 of Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitation and Make Time for What Counts.This week was all about being finite. We break down each day - Days 1 through 7 - of the first section of the book to discuss Oliver’s messaging, examples from their own lives, and what messages resonated with them the most.Are you reading along with us?! Please comment and let us know what you think about Week 1 - either directly from the book or from the episode!Comment on the episode if you’re using Spotify, or visit our Facebook page, comment on Instagram or Threads, OR visit our website to send us a note!https://www.atheistpodcast.com/meditationsformortalsWe’re starting to read Week 2, which is all about taking action. We would love to know if you’re reading along with us! – – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

It’s been HOT in St. Louis! We’ve just experienced a major heatwave and in a late night conversation, Kelley brought up the recent New York Times article The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. After some discussion, Erin and Kelley decided to jump on to record their own "best movie lists" of the 21st Century (and, a little bit of the late-90s!)Maybe you’ll hear about one you haven’t seen and can cool down by watching a GREAT MOVIE!Also check out the NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.htmlAnd COMMENT below on Spotify or YouTube... what are YOUR favorite movies of the 21st century?**HEADS UP**On July 14th, we’ll publish the first of a four-part book study of Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. The book is divided into 4 weeks, so we’re inviting our audience to study one week at a time… except we publish episodes every other week, so you actually get TWO weeks to read! Each episode we’ll unpack our reactions, practices, thoughts, and what’s changed for us as we read this book. We’d love it if you join us!You can pick up the book here: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ or on Audible.You can also learn more about our project at www.atheistpodcast.com/meditationsformortals. – – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

In the second of a two-part series about Mel Robbin’s The Let Them Theory, Erin and Kelley discuss how the theories apply to adult relationships: How do adults make friends? Why is it so much harder than when we’re kids? (Hint: It’s NOT just because of work!) And, what can we do to create more meaningful relationships in our lives?Underlying all of this is a very powerful cognitive behavior that has been proven to decrease anxiety, improve mood, and generally make people happier!**HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT**At the end of the episode, Kelley announces a new project we’re working on…. We’re inviting our listeners to read along with us as we start working through Oliver Burkeman’s new book!  We’ll launch details VERY soon… keep an eye on our socials and our website!– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

We’re back! Erin and Kelley took a month long hiatus where they highlighted two very special episodes from the early days of (A)Theist. Now we’re back with all-new episodes and awesome plans for the future!In the first of a two part series, Erin walks Kelley and the audience through The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Far from a traditional self-help book, The Let Them Theory offers extremely tangible, realistic methods for an individual to discover happiness, clear themselves from self-doubt, and find a path to success.  Deeply rooted in the concept of stoicism (one of Erin’s favorite philosophies), author Mel Robbins suggests that we should stop wasting time on the things - and PEOPLE - we cannot control.– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcastwww.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Kelley and Erin are still working on new episodes in the background. In the meantime, please enjoy the second (A)Theist Encore!This week we’re replaying our conversation with New York Times best selling author Oliver Burkeman.A world-renowned journalist, Oliver has published several popular books including:HELP!: How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More DoneThe Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive ThinkingMeditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What CountsHe also published a weekly column for The Guardian for over a decade called “This Column Will Change Your Life.”Writing with a scientifically-based approach to self-help, philosophy, and the psychology of time management and happiness, Oliver took precious time out of his life to help our fledgling podcast VERY early in our production run. He specifically discusses his most famous book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. The premise is simple: Our lives last approximately 4,000 weeks; perhaps we should slow down and prioritize what matters most to each of us.We are eternally grateful to Oliver for gracing us with his time and brilliance and hope our audience enjoys this replay!Also, we’ve got a new project in the works that involves Oliver Burkeman’s most recent book. Check out the details at www.atheistpodcast.com/oliverburkeman! – – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. https://www.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Presenting “(A)Theist Encores” where we highlight previous episodes that are fan favorites AND carry significant weight today!Our first encore highlights Dr. Belden Lane, a retired Professor of Theology from St. Louis University. Dr. Lane offers a unique perspective to all things religion, specifically focusing on finding God in non-traditional places. He authored Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice” where he highlights the spiritual journeys he has taken in natural areas throughout the world.Dr. Lane was our very first interview, recorded back in March 2023 and premiered on the day of our podcast’s initial launch: July 3, 2023. To date, this is our most played episode and the one that influenced every conversation we’ve had since our start. You’ll hear mentions of names, places, theories, and concepts that we cover in more detail in later episodes.On a personal note, as you’ll hear us talking at the beginning, Erin and Kelley are both moving through some challenges; revisiting Belden offers a solace: His vulnerability and openness become powerful moments during the interview and provide strength and meaning to everyone: theist, atheist, or somewhere in between.We hope all of you enjoy revisiting this early episode as much as we did!Be sure to visit www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/beldenlane to learn more about this phenomenal person!– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. https://www.atheistpodcast.com (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Becky Garrison is an American author, storyteller, journalist, and of most interest to Kelley and Erin, a religious satirist!  Her incisive commentary on faith, culture, and spirituality is bolstered by her extensive background, including a MDiv from Yale Divinity, a MSW from Columbia, and publishing with The Wittenberg Door since 1994.On (A)Theist, Becky shares the importance of satire in modern religious movements, essentially arguing that the satirist provides the much-needed reflection that keeps movements (in this case, churches) healthy for everyone. Becky also introduces us to the concept of a spiritual narcissist. We’re confident a number of people in our audience have encountered these individuals!Becky’s recently published Jesus Died for This?: A Satirist Searches for the Risen Christ (2024) points specifically to a number of instances in which churches had the ability to take a firm stand against injustices but actively chose not to.In 2026, Becky will publish Gaslighting for God: A Satricial Guide to Saving Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists through Lake Drive Books. The book has an active Kickstarter; become a backer today!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gaslighting/gaslighting-for-god-by-becky-garrison?ref=project_linkAnd find more links to Becky’s works on www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/50.– – – (A)theist is produced by STLPodcasts and Trend Media STL.Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.www.atheistpodcast.comContact: atheist@stlpodcasts.com 

Meet Dr. David Morris. David is the founder and publisher of Lake Drive Books, focusing on publishing books that “help you heal, grow, and discover.” With 25 years experience in corporate publishing, David created Lake Drive as an independent publisher focusing on authors who are redefining their spiritual paths, are healing from religious trauma, or working to bridge faith and doubt. David shares with Kelley and Erin his experiences with big publishers, his goals as an independent publisher, shares some new authors with the audience, and discusses his journey of publishing his own book.After the episode, find Lake Drive Books online at www.lakedrivebooks.com and more about David himself at www.davidrmorris.me.  Both the company and the person have extensive online collections of FASCINATING material… find more links at www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/49.– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcast(A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

In the second part of our continuing series about Artificial Intelligence, we tackle some major questions:What really is AI? What’s the difference between AI and AGI? Should we feel optimism or existential dread? Should we be excited or scared? (Hint: The answer is probably a little of both!)Kelley and Erin’s conversation will probably leave you with mixed feelings, but the reality is simple: AI is here. It will grow. It is going to be a reality for all of us moving forward. So rather than deeply value it or deeply condemn it, our focus should probably be on finding connections with each other and AI as we move forward into this brave new world.HEADS UP: This episode pulls from a TON of different sources. We have them all listed at www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/48. Feel free to check them out!And if you’re listening on Spotify, comment below: What are YOUR thoughts about AI? How are you feeling? What haven’t we touched on yet?  (We’ll be revisiting this series in a few months, so we welcome your input!)– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcast(A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

The first in a two (or more) part series discussing Artificial Intelligence, Kelley and Erin discuss Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Harari.Erin and Kelley have wanted to discuss AI since the very beginning of the show and Nexus is a perfect starting point.Harari condenses 100,000 years of human history into a series of moments when information permanently shaped the way in which we live: the Stone Age, Gutenberg’s Bible, witch-hunts, the rise of fascism, and even the new populist movement we see today. Information and truth have a complex, intertwined relationship.The rise of AI is the next big change to society and it will certainly change the very nature of bureaucracy, systems, and the way we live.After the episode, check out some more information we think you’ll find interesting at www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/47. – – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcast(A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

The "loneliness epidemic” is well documented and publicized. But what’s the full story?Journalist Derek Thompson published “The Anti-Social Century” in the February 2025 issue of The Atlantic.This powerfully researched essay posits that Americans have been steadily choosing to become more isolated over the course of the last century.  Notable examples include the adoption of the automobile, the popularization of the TV, and most recently the proliferation of the smartphone.Erin and Kelley discuss the findings of the article, impacts on our daily lives, and connect it to an essay from psychotherapist Esther Perel: "Searching for Connection in a Disconnected Era."After listening to the episode, find links to Thompson’s article, Dr. Perel’s newsletter, and other GREAT stuff at www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/46.– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com.Instagram: @atheistpodcastFacebook: The Atheist Podcast(A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Can creativity be a form of spiritualism? What about meditation? Kelley and Erin would both absolutely say YES.Kelley recently met Wendy Solganik, the creator ofwww.willawanders.com. She teaches courses on making art for thesake of art itself. No push for perfection. No need to impress others. Just purely to relax and find joy. Digging deeper, Kelley learned Wendy has an incredible life story… She initially pursued a high-stress, high-income, professional career only to do what SO MANY of us dream of: give it up and make art!Wendy is so refreshingly honest and pleasant to talk to! And if you’re feeling stressed out, burned out, or just in need of some healthy mental relaxation, check at Wendy’s website and sign up for a course!You can find Wendy online:https://www.willawanders.com/IG:@willa.wandersYT:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCipDRk4ExIZTYSpsw_DDhKQ/videosPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/willawanders/ She’s also got a GREAT podcast called “Show Up or Shut Up” availableHERE!– – – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us atatheist@stlpodcasts.com.Be sure to check us out atwww.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram:@atheistpodcastFacebook:The Atheist Podcast(A)theist is produced by@stlpodcastsMusical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

When was the last time you did something for a complete stranger that was purely for the betterment of their lives? Our guest this episode is Larry Jordan, who spent 25 years as an investment banker before he started to ask himself the same question.  In 2011, he quit his job and began a spiritual journey in which he has served others all over the world. In the process, his whole life and personality have been completely transformed. Larry identifies himself as a follower of Jesus with a Zen practice. He eagerly engages in diverse faiths and belief systems, even finding deep meaning behind the hard sciences and quantum entanglement. His greatest discovery: “Everyone is related, and everything is connected.” Larry recently published The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World, available on Amazon.  Erin and Kelley both loved reading this book: It’s brilliantly written by a person who clearly invested time, energy, thought, and reflection into studying world religions and science. You will LOVE this interview! Afterwards, check out Larry on his website: www.larryjordanauthor.com and we HIGHLY suggest picking up a copy of his book! – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials… Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL (@stlpodcasts).  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Liz Charlotte Grant is an award winning non-fiction storyteller having been featured in The Huffington Post, the Revealer, Sojourners, Christianity Today, and the National Catholic Reporter, among many others. She grew up in a deeply conservative branch of white American evangelicalism. After going through a deconstruction of faith, she now finds herself writing in progressive, mainline, global, and liberatory theological Christian spaces. Liz just released her debut book Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible.  Throughout the book, Liz recalls her journey of faith deconstruction and invites readers to read the Bible in new ways. Once one has deconstructed a literal interpretation (as so many Christians hold), can we still study scripture? Are we able to question sacred beliefs without fearing unbelief? The answer is a resounding yes - Liz invites her readers to absolutely question the texts of the Bible while still celebrating and cherishing their faith. Liz is a prolific writer! After listening to this episode, you should ABSOLUTELY check out her work on her website: https://lizcharlotte.com and her (amazing) Substack: https://www.thempathylist.com.  Be sure to purchase a copy of her book, available HERE. – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @atheistpodcastFacebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by @stlpodcasts.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Happy New Year from Erin and Kelley! We’re actually “off” for a holiday break, but we jumped on a Zoom call to plan out future episodes and ended up doing a bit of a reflection on how much we’ve grown in 2024.  This is a “raw” recording - almost zero editing - just our authentic appreciation for how much has happened in 2024. Huge thank you to our audience - it’s because of YOU we’ve been able to grow as much as we have! Special guest: Erin’s 4 year old daughter! – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @stlpodcasts Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

This isn’t a political podcast. But the nature of modern politics does permeate everything this podcast is about: modern culture, psychology, religion, social science, etc. So, Erin and Kelley have a deep conversation about the 2024 Presidential Election. No matter what your political affiliation, you’ll find both hosts deeply focused on finding connections between liberals, progressives, conservatives, podcasters, political parties, and most importantly… humans who care about each other. - – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials… Instagram: @atheistpodcast Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Find us @stlpodcasts Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Happy Holidays to all of our listeners! In the spirit of celebrating the holidays, Kelley has invited her dear friend Maggie Kelly to discuss food as a sacred practice. Maggie has been an award winning restaurateur and chef for over 40 years. Her relationship with food is not religious, but it is sacred. Maggie discusses her relationship with food, the role food plays in building bonds between people, the importance of chefs in the sustainability movement, and her own perspectives on what it means to cook for another person. SOFT DISCLAIMER: We intentionally recorded this episode while eating, so you WILL hear some background noises as we eat, treat ourselves to a second helping, and just enjoy each other’s company. Be sure to check out the restaurant we ordered from: El Molino del Sureste - some of the best Mexican food in St. Louis!! – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials… Instagram: @stlpodcasts Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.